Lubricator for journal boxes



Dem. 20, 1949 Filed'May 25, 1945 J. D. BIGELOW LUBRICATOR FOR JOURNAL BOXES 5 She'ets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

dunas Dlg Elm/v,

Dec. 20, 1949 J. D. BlGELow 2,491,602

LUBRICATOR FOR JORNAL BOXES Filed May 25, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Lw M I N VEN TOR.

Jul-L55 DEnElElmw,

Dec. 20, 1949 J. D. BlGELow l 2,491,602

LUBRIGATOR FOR JOURNAL BOXES Filed May 25, 1945 V 3 Sl'xeets-Sheel 5 &\ \\\\\V l Jan/,45 0. 5/651 @f1/ Patented Dec. 20, 1949 AUllI'I'l-SD STATlS PATENT FFIC positioneren ron J'oUaNeL noxes Jonas Bigelow, Yonkers, N. Y. Appneeuen May es, 1945,2seri'a1N0. 595,763

This invention relates to improvements in lubricators for journal boxes, and particularly to improvements in pulsation shock and axle or box actuated journal lubricators designed and particularly adapted for use on railway cars and locomotive tenders to operate by the force resulting from combined road shocks and impacts due to unevenness in the track and road bed, change of train speed and relative movements or lost motions between rails, wheels, axles, journal boxes, journal wedges, journal bearings and pedestals.

The main object of the invention is to provide a positive means for automatically supplying lubricant to a storage reservoir located in or at the top of the journal box above the axle p journal for the supply of the lubricant by gravity feed to the axle journal and ccacting bearing surfaces in controlled quantity.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple, reliable and effective motion actuated means which will operate the lubricator from pulsations of the journal box resulting fro vertical movements between the joui box and journal due to irregularities of the road bed and rails.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means at the bottom of the journal box for forming an oil chamber or main oil reservoir and separating the same from the waste containing space thereabove, which means may serve as a support for a lubricating mechanism within the chamber and holding the waste from displacement.

Still another object of the invention is to proviole a lubricating mechanism embodying a motion operated actuator and coacting motion or power amplifying means for developing suflcient power, even under slight motions of the character described, for operating the lubricator.

With these and other objects in View, which will appear in the course of the subjoined description, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a journal box embodying one form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal transverse section through the journal box on line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing certain parts broken away to better disclose certain features.

Figures 3, a and 5 are, respectively, a top plan view, a side elevation and an end elevation of and more particularly showing the supporting bracket, pump parts and actuator.

Referring now more particularly to the draw-I ings, l designates a journal box of improved general type which rreceives the journal and shoulii claims. (ol. 30s- 84) der portions 2 and 3 of the axle fi, and which, as shown herein, is of dust-excluding type, having at its rear a dust-guard well 5 enclosing the shoulder 3 and having at its front a door 6 for closing an opening `or doorway in the upper portion of its front wall l, the door and doorway surfaces being provided with sealing means to exclude dust, moisture and other foreign substances when the door is closed. This door structure ooacts with the well to keep the interior 'ci the box as free as possible from dust, rain or other moisture and other foreign substances causing friction and contamination of the lubricating oil, so that the interior of the box will be substantially free from such substances liable to cause friction or contaminate the oil or intei-tere with its ow to the bearing surfaces. The dust-guard well may be of the type shown in my Patent No. 2,177,606 of October 24, 1939, or my ateut No. 2,237,287, of April 8, 1941, and in my foo-pending application, Serial Number 595,762, lled of even date herewith, and the door structure'may be of the `type particularly shown and described in said application. Of course, it will be understood that dust-guard wells and doors of other suitable types may be used, and that the present invention is not in any manner restricted to thosev shown.

`construction except with regard to certain features hereinafter described.

Arranged within the bottom of .the box above its bottom wall vSi, and between the same and the axle journal,v is a horizontally disposed partition plate lll, which is spaced from the bottom wall to form a main oil chamber or reservoir il and housing for the lubricator mechanism employed. This plate abuts at its rear edge against the rear wall of the box and is provided with a ydownwardly and forwardly inclined front flange i2 and A'downwardly and `outwardly inclined side portions @formed with spaced flanges or lugs Ml. rFliese lugs fit within alcove-like pockets, or recesses l5 formed at the sides of the bottom ofl the `box, vcertainof said lugs being apertured for passage of screws it engaging threaded. sock ets in .it-he bottom walls of the recesses, whereby the partition plate is fastened in position. As shown, the flange il fits between the front walls of the front recesses at the sides of the box and closes the iront `of the chamber at that point. Between theiplate it' and the journal a wastereceiving space is provided and the plate portions I3 form retainingpockets or depressions ll at the sides of `the plate into which portions of the waste may seat,` whereby the waste will be `held The plate IIJ also serves as a support for a bracket plate I8 detachably secured on the underside thereof by bolts, rivets or screws I9 and having a holding ange depending therefrom. The lubricator, which is supported wholly or in part by this bracket plate, is located at the forward end of chamber I I and comprises a cylinder 2| having an oil inlet member 22 for the feed of oil thereto from the chamber or reservoir I I, and having an outlet 23 with which connects one end of an oil feed tube 24.

The stem 25 of a piston working in the cylinder l extends outward through a stufng box 26, which projects through an opening in the flange 20, and is coupled to the forward end of a piston motion transmitting rod or bar 2l which extends rearwardly therefrom and is guided in a subbracket 2t secured to the vbracket Y plate It or formed on the bottom of the journal box. On the rod or bar 2l is an abutment 29 and encircling the piston and rod between the stuing box and abutment is a coiled spring which is tensioned by movement of the piston on a working stroke in one direction to move it in the opposite direction or retract it. The bracket plate I8 is provided at its rear end with pairs of spaced ears 3l forming bearings for a transverse rock shaft 32 carry ing a crank arm 33 which bears against the rear end or the bar or rod 2l. To this shaft are xed the forward ends of the arms 34' of a vertically swinging actuator 34 which is in the form of a weighted bar or plate fixed to the rear ends of the arms. This actuator is movable in a free space at the rear of the chamber so as to move in an arc of sufficient radius to effect, in connection with the spring 3d, an efcient action of the pump with sufficient force to supply at all times an adequatey amount of lubricant to the bearing surfaces of the box and journal.

The element @il is normally held in the upward position shown in full lines in Fig. 4 by the pressure of the spring 30 against the abutment 29, which spring at the same time holds the piston in its rearward or retracted position. The element is operated or swung vertically between its .full line and dotted line positions shown in Fig. e whenever there is any. relative vertical movement between the journal box and axle journal, by which the piston will be impelled on its working stroke to discharge lubricant through its outlet and into the tube 24. When this motion ceases and the pressure of the weighted operating element on the piston is relieved the piston will be retracted by the spring 30. As in the travel of a railway car or vehicle such movements between the journal box and journal occur more or less frequently the positive and automatic feed of an adequate amount of oil to the tube 24 for delivery to the bearing to keep them properly lubricated is ensured.

The oil supplied to the tube 24 is conducted by the tube through a delivery nozzle 24 to a storage reservoir or chamber 38 located at the top of the front of the journal box. This reservoir may be formed on or secured to the box and has a clean-out opening 39 normally closed by a plug itil. Secured to the bottom of this reservoir is a feed tube 4I having openings 42 for the controlled entrance of oil thereto, and the lower end ci this tube communicates with a passage 43 opening into the top of the journal box and through a conducting surface 44, whereby the oil is caused to ilow by gravity to the bearing surface. The upper end of the feed tube has connected thereto a vent tube 45.

An important advantage of the above-described construction of the journal box and lubricator is that the oil is positively and constantly supplied to the bearings by commotion, that all surfaces, including the journal shoulder which is difcult to lubricate, are kept lubricated, that the oil supplied is kept clean and free from dust, grit and other foreign substances, that the lubricator operates automatically without cost, and that the lubricator may be easily removed for cleaning', repairs or replacement, and may be supplied, installed and kept in working order at a comparatively low cost.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and mode of operation of my novel and improved impulse actuated lubricator for journal boxes will be readily understood without a further and extended description, and it will be seen that it provides a lubricator of simple, reliable and efilcient type which will operate automatically to supply oil to the bearing surfaces Linder forces produced by relative vertical motions between the box and journal due to track or other road bed rregularities, thus ensuring the supply of oil at all times in adequate quantity to the bearing surface. The use of this automatic lubricator overcomes the ineiiicient or insufficient lubricating Y actions occurring when reliance is placed on the use of waste alone and without additional cost for operating purposes. While the construction disclosed is deemed preferable at the present time, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and that changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts, other than those indicated, may be made within` the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire `to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a car axle journal box, and an axle journaled therein, means in the box for supplying oil from a source in the box to the bearing surfaces of the journal and journal bearM ing, said means comprising a pump cylinder, a piston operating in said cylinder, a pivotally mounted actuating device movable vertically un der relative vertical working motions between the box and journal, and motion transmitting means between the pump piston and said device for operating said piston.

2. In combination with a car axle journal box,

, and an axle journaled therein, means for supply ing oil from a source in the box to the bearing surfaces of the journal and journal bearing, said means comprising a, pump cylinder, a Vpiston operating therein, a spring retracted motion transmitting member coupled to the piston, ahoriz-ontal transverse rock shaft journaled `in the box, a weighted actuating member connected to the shaft and movable vertically under relative vertical movements between the box and journal, and an arm carried by the shaft and engageable with Athe motion transmitting member to transmit working motion thereto.

3. In a lubricator for a car axle journal box and axle, said box having an oil reservoir charnber located beneath the journal, a pump cylinder mounted in the forward portion of said chamber, a spring retracted piston operating in the cylinder, and an actuating device disposed at the rear of the Chamberland coupled to the piston and -pivotally mounted to swing vertically under relative vertical working motions between the box and journal to impel the piston on its working stroke.

4. In combination with a car axle journal box and axle, said box having an oil storage chamber, a pump cylinder located in said chamber and having an outlet for supplying oil to the surfaces to be lubricated, a piston operating in the cylinder, and a motion transmitting means for operating the piston including a spring retracted motion transmitting member located in the chamber and coupled to the piston, a horizontal transverse shaft at the rear of the chamber, a weighted actuating member connected to the shaft and movable vertically under relative vertical movements between the box and journal, and an arm carried by the shaft and engageable with the motion `transmitting member to transmit working motion thereto.

5. In combination with a car axle journal, and an axle box having an oil reservoir chamber located beneath the journal, a pump cylinder disposed at the front of said chamber and having an outlet for supplying oil to the surfaces to be lubricated, a piston operating in said cylinder, a motion transmitting member connected with the piston and extending rearwardly therefrom in the chamber and movable forwardly to impel the piston on a working stroke, a spring for retracting the piston after each working stroke thereof, and an actuating device disposed in the rear portion of said chamber and pivotally mounted-to swing vertically on a horizontal transverse axis under relative vertical motions below the box and journal for operating said member to impel the piston on its working stroke.

6. In combination with a car axle journal and journal box, a partition plate cooperating with the bottom of the box to form an oil reservoir, a pump cylinder supported by the plate at the forlet leading forwardly therefrom for supplying oil to the surfaces to be lubricated, a piston operat ing in the cylinder, a reciprocating motion transmitting member connected at its forward end with the piston and in guided engagement at its rear end with the plate, said member being movable forwardly to impel the piston on its working stroke, a spring for retracting said member and piston after each working stroke thereof, and a pump actuating device at the rear of the chamber pivotally supported by said plates to swing vertically under relative Vertical working motion between the box and journal for Operating said member to impel the piston on its working stroke.

7. In combination with a car axle journal box, and an axle journaled therein, a partition plate supported in the box beneath the journal so as to form an oil reservoir chamber between the journal and the bottom of the box, a pump cylinder supported by said partition at the forward portion of said chamber and having an outlet leading therefrom toward the front of the box, a piston operating in said cylinder, a reciprocating motion transmitting member connected with the piston and extending rearwardly therefrom in said chamber, a spring for retracting the piston after each working motion thereof, and a pivoted actuating device supported by the partition at the rear of the chamber to swing on a horizontal transverse axis under relative vertical motions between the box and journal for operating said member to impel the piston on its working stroke.

8. In combination with a car axle journal box, and an axle journaled therein, a partition plate supported in the box beneath the journal so as to form an oil storage chamber between the journal and the bottom of the box, a bracket plate supported from the partition plate within the chamber, a pump cylinder supported by the bracket plate at the front of said chamber and having an outlet leading therefrom toward the front of the box, a piston operating in the cylinder, a motion transmitting member in the chamber connected with the piston and extending rearwardly therefrom in guided engagement with the bracket plate, a spring for retracting the piston after each working operation thereof, a horizontal transverse rock shaft at the rear of the bracket plate having a crank arm engageable with the motion transmitting member to impel the piston on its working stroke, and a weighted pump actuating device pivotally connected to the shaft to swing vertically under relative vertical movef ments between the box and journal and operative on the shaft to move the motion transmitting device against the resistance of the spring to impel the piston on its working stroke.

9. In a lubricating mechanism for the bearing surfaces of a bearing box and journal, and in combination with the box and journal, a pump cylinder mounted horizontally in the box below the level of the journal, a reciprocatory piston operating in the cylinder, and means including an actuating device pivotally mounted in the box below the level of the journal and coupled to the piston and controlled and operated by relative vertical movements between the box and journal for reciprocating said piston.

10. In a lubricating mechanism for the bearing surfaces oi a bearing box and journal, and in combination with the box and journal, a pump cylinder mounted in the box, a piston operating in said cylinder, an actuating member mounted .f k; in the box to swing on a horizontal transverse axis ward portion of said reservoir and having an outunder relative vertical movements between the box and journal, and a motion transmitting means between said member and the piston and cooperating with said member for transmitting reciprocatory motion to the piston.

11. A pumping mechanism for application to a bearing box and journal for supplying oil to the bearing surfaces of the box and journal from a source of oil supply in the box including, in combination, a pump cylinder, a spring retracted piston operating therein, an actuating device pivotally mounted to swing vertically on a horizontal transverse axis under relative vertical movements between the box and journal, and means for transmitting motion from said device to the piston to impel the piston on its working stroke.

JONAS D. BIGELOW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 138,242 Gates Apr. 29, 1873 228,657 Luders June 8, 1880 352,171 Wendell Nov. 9, 1886 647,715 Brown Apr. 17, 1900 1,265,199 Hennessy May 7, 1918 1,378,452 Hennessy May 17,` 1921 1,444,461 Hennessy Feb. 6, 1923 1,514,855 Hennessy Nov. 11 1924 1,630,743 Hennessy May 31,. 1927 1,658,196 Hennessy Feb. 7, 1928 1.836,799 Hennessy Dec. 15,` 1931 

